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THE WAY OF LIFE
the endeavours to attain spiritual development. It becomes an inpediment on the path of spiritual purification.
RISHABHDEV PREVAILS UPON HIS SONS TO SEE THE TRUTH
When Bhagwan Rishabhdev renounced his worldly life and received initiation into the sadhudharma, he divided his kingdom among his hundred sons. He gave each one an independent kingdom. Bharat was his eldest son. Bharat was going to become an emperor. He had conquered the whole of Bharat. He could be crowned emperor only when a divine weapon called Chakraratna appeared in his arsenal. The Chakraratna is installed by heavenly beings. When the Chakraratna did not appear in his arsenal, Bharat was worried. His Chief Minister said to him, "Until you can make your ninety-nine brothers obey your orders the Chakraratna will not appear in your arsenal". Bharat sent his messengers to his ninety-nine younger brothers.
Bahubali heard the message brought by the messenger; rebuked him and sent him back. He refused to obey Bharatha's orders. The other ninety-eight brothers also became angry when they heard Bharatha's commands. Do you know why it happened thus ? The ninety-nine brothers began thinking negatively about the message sent by Bharatha. They thought, "Our father has given us independent kingdoms. We shall not accept Bharatha's supremacy. We will not agree to be his subordinates".
Bahubali, of course, got ready for a war. The other ninetyeight brothers also decided to fight a war against Bharatha; but this thought arose in their minds, "Is our decision right? Why should not we take the opinion of our father ?" The ninetyeight brothers decided to meet their father and to take his opinion.
They approached Bhagwan Rishabhdev. They narrated the whole story to him and said, "Bhagwan! We have decided to unite and fight against Bharata. Is our decision right ?"
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